After a long long wait the eight season of Game of Thrones is finally approaching us. Yes, it is now just a month or so away (It premieres on April 14, 2019). So as per the tradition the trailer of the season is already out. While not relying on big action it tries to focus upon moments and characters. Speaking of action it is already well know that the Battle of Winterfell is going to be the biggest thing even seen on television. Peter Dinklage has gone on to record to say that Battle of Bastards was nothing compared to what the Battle of Winterfell has shaped up into. And we all know how the whole world went crazy after what they witnessed during the Battle of Bastards.

Coming back to the trailer, the most startling thing that first hit us is a terrified Arya. Now we all know that Arya isn't easily scared. So what is it that made her look so petrified? Clearly it cannot be anything that breathes oxygen. Next we see her running for her life with a voiceover in her voice saying, "I know death. It's got many faces. I look forward to seeing this one." And suddenly we see the fearless Arya that we have grown accustomed to seeing of late, holding a piece of razor sharp dragon glass in his hand. In between we get a glimpse of a pensive looking Ser Davos. But the thing is that we have never really seen him with any other look on his face except whenever he was with Stannis' daughter Princess Shireen.

Next we see two of our favorite secondary characters: One who keeps dying but is brought back repeatedly and the other who wants to make monster babies with Brienne. Yes, you guessed it right. Tormund is very much alive and he is seen with Beric who is brandishing his flaming sword while passing a dingy alley. In the very next scene we see Sam with Bran. Sam has the characteristic concerned look on his face while Bran looks as calm as ever. The makes way for a scene featuring Cersei and Qyburn with the zombie-esque Mountain standing at the back like always.

And finally we witness two of the most beloved characters, Dany and Jon, riding towards Winterfell as an amused Sansa watches the two dragons fry past her. This leads us to the epic setting of the Battle of Winterfell where all hell will break lose. We see a busy looking Gendry, Ser Jorah riding his horse and leading a charge (probably against an army of wights), and a truly passionate moment between Missandei and Grey Worm. Both of them always look so great together but here the passions seem to be rising even higher as they sense death fast approaching them.

Nicolas Coster-Waldau as Jamie Lannister in a still from Game of Thrones Season 8

Next we see Jamie cutting through the enemy forces with his left hand before making a huge battle cry. The Kingslayer has certainly become better at sword fighting with his left hand. All those sessions with Bronn seem to have done wonders for this mercurial character that over the course of the last seven season has had a tremendous journey. There was a time when we all hated him and now he is one of our favorite characters on the show. He is seen telling someone (most likely Cersei), "I promised to fight for the living. I intend to keep that promise." That's just the kind of stuff heroes are made up of. Yes, he may still be in love with Cersei but his honor comes first for him and we know for sure that he will fight till his last breath to keep the Army of the Dead at bay. In between these images we Dany's two dragons flying past the frozen mountains as Arya sees them from a distance. Also we see the Hound with a determined look on his face. We also see Grey Worm preparing for the battle.

All this makes way for probably the moment anticipated moment of Game of Thrones with Jon and Dany approaching the two dragons. Will Jon finally ride Rhaegal and accompany Dany as she rides Drogon and takes the charge against the Night King who we all now now rides a resurrected Viserion? Well, if that happens it would be really epic. Won't it? The trailer also shows Tyrion Lannister for a brief moment. We all know how he played a pivotal role in one upping Stannis during Battle of the Blackwater Bay. We don't know what role will have to play in this war. Will he just stick to counselling Dany or will he be forced to take a more active part in the war?

The Army of the Dead reaches Winterfell

And finally the trailer leads us to that most chilling moment of them all. The Army of the Dead seems to have crossed the Wall and come as far as Winterfell where the human army is ready to take on death itself (which is relentless and never tires as Jon is heard mentioning earlier in the trailer). The Winter has finally come just as Ned Stark had predicted about eight seasons ago. Remember, it took eleven weeks of night shooting to complete the Battle of Winterfell. And so there is no doubt that it would be grand. But I am more interested in the payoff. Certainly, the battle will lead us somewhere and that's what excites me the most. G.R.R. Martin has already said that the saga will have a bittersweet ending, something on the lines of what J.R.R. Tolkien achieved in 'The Lord of the Rings' through the book's penultimate chapter titled 'The Scouring of the Shire'.

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Murtaza Ali Khan is an independent film critic / journalist based out of New Delhi, India. He has been writing on cinema for over seven years. He runs the award-winning entertainment blog A Potpourri of Vestiges. He is also the Films Editor at the New York City-based publication Cafe Dissensus and regularly contributes to The Hindu and The Sunday Guardian. He was previously a columnist at Huff Post. He has also contributed to publications like DailyO, Newslaundry, The Quint, Dear Cinema, Desimartini and Jamuura Blog. He regularly appears as a guest panelist on the various television channels and is also associated with radio.